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Post on 13th July, 2022

Latest news

I am afraid there has yet to be a response to the letter sent on 26th June to LBRUT asking for action to return the Udney Park playing fields to community use, beyond a brief holding letter. I have updated the Foundation’s letter to include as signatories various individuals and local clubs who missed the deadline before the original letter was sent. All these additional endorsements are very much appreciated.

Under a Freedom of Information request I had been advised that not a single bidder had emerged that had gone as far as Pre-App. I am now told that this is not the case and apparently there is a bidder who has now taken this to the Pre-App stage. If this bid progresses then maybe there will be a new owner of the playing fields!

It would seem more likely that this bid will melt away faced with the huge planning restrictions, as indeed have all the other mooted offers over the last year or so. These restrictions are about to be added to as a ‘study of local views deserving of protection’ to be included in the new Local Plan, is to include Udney Park Playing Fields.

If this latest bid evaporates then the Foundation will hope to start talks in earnest with the landowners in mid-August, when the next ACV period begins.

Other recent news

Foundation submit bid to Mr Wu and support in Parliament

Posted on 6th Feb 2024

I have now attended two positive meetings with Mr Wu’s representatives, together with my fellow trustee, Philip Barnes. The most recent meeting was the week before last. An offer to purchase the fields has been submitted. More information has been requested. The Foundation is providing an executive summary as to why the land should be sold, in order that Mr Wu’s representatives can go back with to Mr Wu with a recommendation. This submission will go in this week.

The second meeting was also attended by our local MP, Munira Wilson, who made several robust statements in support of the bid. Munira left all attendees in no doubt as to her position. Her position has also been set out in Parliament on more than one occasion, most recently as link below.

https://youtu.be/FWT7W-EcpEQ?feature=shared

Discussions on purchase of fields due to commence

Posted on 27th Sep 2023

The ACV for the sale for Udney Park playing fields was finally triggered on 15th September 2023, when the owners formally confirmed to LBRUT that they intended to sell the fields. A moratorium of six months now commences during which time the fields can only be sold to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Foundation to submit bid AND receives a mention in parliament.

Posted on 14th Jul 2023

Confirmation of the sale of Udney Park playing fields was confirmed in the local press igniting hopes that the fields can be returned to community use https://teddingtontown.co.uk/2023/07/06/teddingtons-udney-park-playing-fields-back-on-the-market/

The Foundation have contacted the representatives of Mr Wu in order to put in motion an offer for the purchase of the playing fields. The site is designated as an ACV, and is currently under a moratorium which prevents the sale of the land to anyone other than a Community Interest Company (CIC) for a six month period.